Revolutionary War Diary

An original Revolutionary War diary is hard to come by. American history collectors will find many Civil War diaries but not so much from the battles approximately 90 years before. That is why they are so expensive. We at NateDSanders.com Auctions were lucky enough to have sold just one Revolutionary War diary before and it sold for $5,750. Here is the description and picture:

1776 Revolutionary War diary with handwritten entries by soldier John Cooper and filled with notes from the battlefield. Rare book entries span from 19 April 1776-21 December 1776. Front page of almanac dated in writing “1776.” Full printed title page reads: “Gaine’s Universal Register, or, American and British Kalendar, For the Year 1776. New York: H. Gaine.” Cooper mentions the North River, where two men were lost and 17 returned to fort. He writes of burning bridges and homes, pitching tents and going fishing with his superiors: “We had a large funeral, we left a Noble General that day and buried him with great honor.” Excerpt: “[June] 20 went out with a party of men to clean land for Uncle John of the Congress -23 went up to Lake George falls…June 21 – Sailed to the Isle anoar as express and was a larmed there by 4 men being cilled by Indians 7 taken Prisoners and 1 Escaped. 1 more made escape same night and got in to the island about 12 Oclock at night. [June] 22 – Retreated from the isle anoar to the white house. [June] 23 Retreated from white house to the isle anoar and sailed back to the sloop same day…July 21 Ciled 4 taken of our men by the indians 13 at the river Lecoal about 8 miles above the isle anoar…July 1st 1776 – sailed from the four Brothers to split rock and there cast anchor and ferried all night 2 tuck in 6 oxen and 6 cows then hoist anchor and set sail. The wind fell and we had to lower sails and man the oars but yet arrived the same night about 12 o clock at Crownpoint harbor. July 3d lay aboard the Enterprise except some time spent ashoar…August 16th 1776 Nothing remarkable that day that night we was alarmed by the firing of three shots all day. Calld to arms and stud one the parade till a Capt and six men were three quarters of a mile and back then dismised and went to bed…September 2 1776 Sailed from Fort George to the Landen loaded with forty barrels flour and five barrels rum one man fell overboard out of another boat and was drowned that night landed at Fort George.” Another excerpt reads: “May 5th 1776 / Marched from Albany to half moon 6 marched to Newtown / 7 Marched to Saratoga / 8 Marched to Fort Miller / 9 Marched to Queensborough / 10 Marched to Sbadary Point 11…16 Went a fishing with Mayger Curtis and Capt. McCracken & Ensign McClung and Caugh Almost a boat full of Fish / 17 Went a fishing with Capt. McCracken.” About 2pp. refer to being sent out to clear the road: “Sent out with a party of men to clear land for Uncle John of the congress.” Second page reference: “Lieut Ryan and I took command of 25 men to work on the road for Uncle John of the congress.” Includes printed list of 1776 eclipses and “Quakers General Meetings are kept” that includes “At Philadelphia, 4th Sunday in March and September” and “At Duck-Creek, 3d Sunday in April” and “At Salem, the 3d Sunday in May.” Also includes a printed list of the House of Commons, Table of the Kings and Queens of English, the African Corps of the U.S. Military and other politicians, officers and soldiers. New York-based diary references Fort George, Newton, Saratoga, Fort Miller and more. Also referenced are numerous references to Indians, including a band that killed 11 soldiers and one that escaped. Handwritten portions includes a ledger that mentions debts owed and paid by the following military officers: General De Wolfe, John Morgens, Capt. Edmonson, Lieutenant Ryan, Sgt. Salmon, Major Curtis, Capt. McCracken, Capt. Philip Burch, Samuel Sherwood, Capt. Gibson, John McGinne, Noah Layman, Jacob Morral, Edmond Tomphino, John Helmet, James Hodges, James Glead Lock, Simon Marthel, John Morgan, Tom Sharp and Julis Abinather. Includes a notation: “Brandy Drunk in Company – 6 half pints.” Composed in dark sepia ink, 3″ x 5″ booklet runs 168pp., of which approximately 30 contain writing; 10pp. of written pages detached. Heavy wear and chips to cover boards, heavy toning, otherwise very good condition. Exceptionally rare Revolutionary War diary. Sold for $5,750.

1776 Revolutionary War diary with handwritten entries by soldier John Cooper and filled with notes from the battlefield.